Former DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh’s bail plea dismissed

Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. File

A special court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases in Chennai on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) dismissed the bail petition filed by former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in a case involving an alleged multi-crore bribery scam in the grant of government recognition and various approvals to private schools during the previous DMK regime.

The Federation of Private Schools had lodged a complaint alleging bribes amounting to several crores of rupees were collected by promising to secure government recognition and various approvals for private schools.

Based on the complaint, the Central Crime Branch (CCB), Greater Chennai City Police registered a case against several persons, including B.T. Arasakumar, president of a private schools association, former MLA Muthukumaran and former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh, on allegations of collecting money and cheating private schools.

Mr Anbil Mahesh was arrested on October 26 and remanded in judicial custody till November 18. Subsequently, the police took him into custody for three days, from November 2 to 4, for interrogation.

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Meanwhile, he moved the special court seeking bail in the case. Arguments on the bail petition were heard by Judge L.S. Sathiyamoorthy on November 5, following which the judge reserved orders.

Pronouncing orders on Monday (November 9, 2026), the judge Mr. Sathyamoorthy dismissed the bail petition filed by the former minister.

The judge observed the investigation was at a preliminary stage and accepted the prosecution’s submission that former MLA Muthukumaran, a co-accused, had to be taken into police custody for further interrogation.

Tamil Nadu / judiciary (system of justice) / justice and rights